No extraordinary election to fill Dardancup vacancy

Dardanup Shire Council voted to not hold an extraordinary election to fill the position of resigned councillor Danny Harris.

Cr Harris resigned from the position in June due to health reasons and his term of office expires in October next year.

Councillors were unanimous in the decision to wait until next year’s ordinary election in October to fill the role.

Dardanup shire chief executive officer Mark Chester said an extraordinary election could have cost up to $25,000.

“Because we don’t have wards, the packages have got to go out to every elector,” he said.

“So that would cost between $20,000 to $25,000.”

Shire president Mick Bennett said the decision would allow the council to save money.

“It just makes sense to wait until the ordinary election next year,” he said.

“If we held an extraordinary election in October it would mean the person voted in would only have 12 months in office.

“It means we don’t have to take any money out of the election reserve fund or from any other source.

“Our current councillors know what they are doing and we will be able to see out the next 12 months or so.”

Cr Harris was first elected to the council in 1988 and served until 1995, including a stint as shire president from 1992 to 1995.

He was re-elected in 2011 and again in 2015.